Asian confusion

[Urkidding]

For americans any asian is a chinese person. Whenever they see an asian face they assume that he/she is chinese. "Are you chinese? Ni hao!". Many japanese, vietnamese, and koreans complain about it.

 

With 1.3 billion Chinese out there¡­ I would bet that you have a 1 in 3 chances of them answering you in Chinese .

[lili58]

For americans any asian is a chinese person. Whenever they see an asian face they assume that he/she is chinese. "Are you chinese? Ni hao!". Many japanese, vietnamese, and koreans complain about it.

 

With 1.3 billion Chinese out there… I would bet that you have a 1 in 3 chances of them answering you in Chinese .

Yes, but not all of them will be pleased by that generalization. They have their own language, culture, and country.

[David&Wendy]

I don't know many times coworkers and friends have asked me

"so what is the difference between YEN and USD?"

I say, "umm I don't know."

They say, "Didn't you live in China?"

I reply, "Yes I did but why would I have Japanese Yen if I was living in China?"

 

 

How many of you have experienced friends and coworkers who do not know the difference between Japan and China? During conversations about China I routinely hear people make comments about the Geisha, Sumo wrestlers, samurai and other items that are Japanese. Has anyone else experienced this? It seems that a large number of people are pretty much clueless when it comes to Asia and are not able to differentiate between Japan and China.

 

Maybe I just need to hang out with a better group of people...

[SirLancelot]

A lot of people I know can't tell the difference between Chinese, Japanese, and Korean writing.

 

. . . including Chinese people !!

 

No way. Part of the Japanese writing and Korean writing came from the Chinese.

 

 

I'm not kidding - they don't recognize the Japanese Hirakana and Katakana alphabets, the Korean characters are totally different.

 

Randy, the Chinese may not be able to read some of the Japanese characters or the modern Korean characters, but literate Chinese certainly know the difference between all three written languages. Now if you're saying that there are some illiterate Chinese people who can't tell, I can believe you as there are indeed some rural illiterate Chinese people in China who can't even read Chinese but Tony is right that all educated and literate Chinese people who can read and write Chinese can tell the difference between written Chinese, Japanese or Korean.

 

lili58, some wealthier Chinese were assumed to be Japanese in the 90's when visiting Hawaii and staying at 5-star hotels or eating at expensive restaurants. Service and wait staff incorrectly assumed all wealthy looking Asians were from Japan. I'm sure this still happens in Hawaii, but to a lesser extent as was the case back in the 90's.

[TootTaLu]

How many of you have experienced friends and coworkers who do not know the difference between Japan and China? During conversations about China I routinely hear people make comments about the Geisha, Sumo wrestlers, samurai and other items that are Japanese. Has anyone else experienced this? It seems that a large number of people are pretty much clueless when it comes to Asia and are not able to differentiate between Japan and China.

 

Maybe I just need to hang out with a better group of people...

Oh,I think its normal.Before I ever traveled out of the USA,I knew nothing about this stuff.

You should hear the stuff Asians say about Westerners,its just as inaccurate.

I think its better to look at the humorous side of this subject.

Also,when you are hanging around with your friends,you can take this opportunity to show off your knowlege of Asia and be the most interesting conversationalist in the group.

[tonado]

I work in the limo business. From looking at the clients last names, my co-workers can't tell if they are Chinese, Japanese, or Koreans.

[lostinblue]

How many of you have experienced friends and coworkers who do not know the difference between Japan and China? During conversations about China I routinely hear people make comments about the Geisha, Sumo wrestlers, samurai and other items that are Japanese. Has anyone else experienced this? It seems that a large number of people are pretty much clueless when it comes to Asia and are not able to differentiate between Japan and China.

 

Maybe I just need to hang out with a better group of people...

Oh,I think its normal.Before I ever traveled out of the USA,I knew nothing about this stuff.

You should hear the stuff Asians say about Westerners,its just as inaccurate.

I think its better to look at the humorous side of this subject.

Also,when you are hanging around with your friends,you can take this opportunity to show off your knowlege of Asia and be the most interesting conversationalist in the group.

Americans are so damm ignorant

[jbray]

I am a bit better at geography than most people... Been to 25 countries, read lots of travelogues, always had lots of international friends... My grandparents were missionaries to Korea (my mother is still fluent in Korean), but I have to admit, I always got Korea, China, and Japan confused... I could tell the difference between Korean and the other two, but confused Chinese and Japanese (don't anymore)... Before a few years ago (2002), I could only name 2 cities in China (Beijing and Shanghai).

 

I think in general, most American's don't know a lot about what's going on outside of America. My goodness, ask your co-workers, "What's the capital of Canada?" I bet most will say "Toronto" (it's not, by the way). Who's the Prime Minister of Canada? I am pretty plitically astute, and I have no idea...

 

How many people are convinced that Australia is a small country in Central Europe, or that Austria is full of Kangaroo's...

 

Sad, sad sad ...

[jbray]

I mean, I could tell the difference between written Korean, and the other 2 languages (spoken... I had no idea).

[Randy W]

A lot of people I know can't tell the difference between Chinese, Japanese, and Korean writing.

 

. . . including Chinese people !!

 

No way. Part of the Japanese writing and Korean writing came from the Chinese.

 

 

I'm not kidding - they don't recognize the Japanese Hirakana and Katakana alphabets, the Korean characters are totally different.

 

Randy, the Chinese may not be able to read some of the Japanese characters or the modern Korean characters, but literate Chinese certainly know the difference between all three written languages. Now if you're saying that there are some illiterate Chinese people who can't tell, I can believe you as there are indeed some rural illiterate Chinese people in China who can't even read Chinese but Tony is right that all educated and literate Chinese people who can read and write Chinese can tell the difference between written Chinese, Japanese or Korean.

 

 

Sorry, guy, but there is at least one Chinese PhD here in the office who can't - he doesn't do Pinyin, either (from near Shanghai).

 

I doubt that my wife could, either.

Edited March 19, 2007 by Randy W (see edit history)

[SinoTexas]

How many of you have experienced friends and coworkers who do not know the difference between Japan and China? During conversations about China I routinely hear people make comments about the Geisha, Sumo wrestlers, samurai and other items that are Japanese. Has anyone else experienced this? It seems that a large number of people are pretty much clueless when it comes to Asia and are not able to differentiate between Japan and China.

 

Maybe I just need to hang out with a better group of people...

Oh,I think its normal.Before I ever traveled out of the USA,I knew nothing about this stuff.

You should hear the stuff Asians say about Westerners,its just as inaccurate.

I think its better to look at the humorous side of this subject.

Also,when you are hanging around with your friends,you can take this opportunity to show off your knowlege of Asia and be the most interesting conversationalist in the group.

Americans are so damm ignorant

Cultural and geographic ignorance is all over the world and is not exclusive to the US. How many folks in China can tell the difference between a person from Sweden as opposed to the Czech Republic or someone from the US as opposed to Canada? I doubt a majority of the Chinese can tell the difference between written English and written German or spoken French and Dutch. Our ignorance of the international community is not limited to Asia either. I doubt many of us could locate, much less name the Baltic countries. And, I would suspect that many Americans and Asians would not recognize the difference in physical features and accent nuances between someone from Scotland or Ireland or Australia or maybe even England and Canada. Americans don't have a monopoly on cultural and geographical ignorance.

 

As aye,

 

Jim

[tonado]

A lot of people I know can't tell the difference between Chinese, Japanese, and Korean writing.

 

. . . including Chinese people !!

 

No way. Part of the Japanese writing and Korean writing came from the Chinese.

 

 

I'm not kidding - they don't recognize the Japanese Hirakana and Katakana alphabets, the Korean characters are totally different.

 

Randy, the Chinese may not be able to read some of the Japanese characters or the modern Korean characters, but literate Chinese certainly know the difference between all three written languages. Now if you're saying that there are some illiterate Chinese people who can't tell, I can believe you as there are indeed some rural illiterate Chinese people in China who can't even read Chinese but Tony is right that all educated and literate Chinese people who can read and write Chinese can tell the difference between written Chinese, Japanese or Korean.

 

 

Sorry, guy, but there is at least one Chinese PhD here in the office who can't - he doesn't do Pinyin, either (from near Shanghai).

 

I doubt that my wife could, either.

If your wife have any schooling, she can tell which writing is from which country. However, she won't be able to read the Japanese and Korean. Go ask her.

 

 

Chinese

http://www.ascendercorp.com/graphics/Chinese_Sim_sample.gif

 

Japanese

http://www.ascendercorp.com/graphics/Japanese_sample.gif

 

Korean

http://www.ascendercorp.com/graphics/Korean_sample.gif

[TootTaLu]

How many of you have experienced friends and coworkers who do not know the difference between Japan and China? During conversations about China I routinely hear people make comments about the Geisha, Sumo wrestlers, samurai and other items that are Japanese. Has anyone else experienced this? It seems that a large number of people are pretty much clueless when it comes to Asia and are not able to differentiate between Japan and China.

 

Maybe I just need to hang out with a better group of people... B)

Oh,I think its normal.Before I ever traveled out of the USA,I knew nothing about this stuff.

You should hear the stuff Asians say about Westerners,its just as inaccurate.

I think its better to look at the humorous side of this subject.

Also,when you are hanging around with your friends,you can take this opportunity to show off your knowlege of Asia and be the most interesting conversationalist in the group.

Americans are so damm ignorant

Americans.

We are a rare find regardless of what country we are traveling in.

In China they think I am Australian or English,because there are lots of those people here.

Next they think I am French,usually in SW China they think that.

There are just so few Americans traveling compared to thos other people.

In South Korea they think I am Russian.

I traveled around Europe,I was amazed at how many UK,German and French people took such a great interest in me,inviting me home and dragging me around town to show me off to their friends.

Its very rare for me to meet fellow Americans where ever I travel.

 

MeiGuo HAO!

[Randy W]

If your wife have any schooling, she can tell which writing is from which country. However, she won't be able to read the Japanese and Korean. Go ask her.

 

 

Ok, I'll check with her tonight. Don't forget, though, that foreign language was not exactly a priority during the Cultural Revolution.

 

My PhD friend is the same age, and doesn't know the difference between Japanese and Korean characters.

Edited March 19, 2007 by Randy W (see edit history)

[TootTaLu]

 

Chinese

http://www.ascendercorp.com/graphics/Chinese_Sim_sample.gif

 

Japanese

http://www.ascendercorp.com/graphics/Japanese_sample.gif

 

Korean

http://www.ascendercorp.com/graphics/Korean_sample.gif

 

 

Above Korean writing is a modern style,Koreans also use traditional Chinese carichters.

Although Korean language is difficult to speak,there are few (about less than 30) Korean carichters in their modern alphabet.You put the carichters together to sound out a word,much like English.

 

The problem with Japanese writing is that the sound and meaning of the carichter changes,depending on where it is in the sentance or word.Sometimes the same carichter has 8 different meanings.

 

Japanese people can usually understand a bit of Chinese subtitles on a DVD and follow the movie,but can't really "read" it.

 

Chinese carichters always have the same meaning wherever they appear in the writing.

Chinese people can not read Japanese subtitles at all and could never follow the movie,but should be able to recognize a few of the Chinese carichters used.

 

If a Chinese person studies hard and learns to read,write and speak Japanese,there are great job opportunities waiting for them in Japan,because Japanese people rarely learn to speak or translate Chinese language.